Machine for stretching leather.



Patented Aug. 2|, |901).

F. A. BRADFORD & A. HOLMES.

` MAGHINE FOR STRETCHING LEATHER.

(Appumion med sept. 1e, m99.)

y 6 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

WITJEEEEE: l 77 a. tpl/EH-rna':

mi, nnnms mans co. PHoTo.|.|n-mwAsH1NGToN. o. c.

Patented Aug. 2l, |900. F. A. BRADFORD M.--A. HOLMES.

MACHINE FUR STBETCHIMG'LEATHER.

` (Application filed Sept. 18, 1899.) (No Model.)

6 Sheetsl-Sheet 2,.

o.. wssuluc'roN. n. n

(No Model.)

awwal;

Patented Aug. 2|. |900.

F. A. BRADFORD &. M. A. HOLMES.

MAGHINE FUR STRETCHING LEATHER.A

(Application led Sept. 16, 1899.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 656,594. A Patented Aug-2|, |909.

F. A. snAnFonn & M. A. HOLMES.

MACHINE FOR STRETCHING LEATHER. 4

(Application lod Sept.` 16, 1899.)

w44 Lis m-A M mams PETERS co, PHoTo-Llmo., wAsmnm'o. n. v;

No. 656,594. Y Patented Aug.-l 2I, 1900.

F. A. BRADFORD & M. A. HOLMES.A MACHINE FOR 'STRETCHING LEATHER.

(Application Bled Sept. 16, 1899.) (No Mudei.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

NITIJEEEEE 77 a Patented Aug.v 2|, |900. F., A. `BRADFORD & MJA. HULMES.

MACHINE FOR STRETCHING LEATHER.

` '(Applicaeion'med sept. 1e, 1899.) (No Model.)` 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

.. wnmua'run. u c.

UNrTED STATES;

PATENT Ormes.

FRANK BRADFORD, OF BOSTON, AND MERTON A. HOLMES, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO HARRIET E. HOLMES, LENA HOLMES, AND MERTON A. HOLMES, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

.MACHINE FOR STRETCHI'NQW,henri-1ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,594,`dated August 21, 1900..

l l Application liled September 16,1899. Serial No. 730,760. (No model.)

To @ZZ tuk/0m t may concern/L- l Be it known thatwe, FRANK A. BRADFORD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and MER- TON A. HOLMES, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and,

useful Improvement in Leather-Stretching Machines,of which the following is a full,clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention `relates to a leather-stretching machine .which is adapted to stretch leather or other material either in the piece or independently of a removable stretchingframe or to stretch it in a removable stretching-frame which is adapted to hold the leather or material in a Astretched condition after the machine had acted upon it and the stretching-frame is removed from the machine.

It also relates to means whereby the removable stretching-frame is mounted upon' and removed from the machine'.

. It further relates to the rubbing-blades and` manner of mounting them, of reciprocating them, and'of'using them in connection with a removable stretching-frame'. l

It also relates to means for removing slack from the material 'preparatory to the action of the rubbing-blades and to the hand adjustment of the rubbing-blades, also to means whereby the two clamps or holders for holding the leather or material stretched are automatically separatedfrom eachother, and to further means whereby the travel of the rubbingblades is automatically increased in length as the clamps are separated and the material stretched, and which movement is controlled by the movement of a clamp. y

lt further relates to means whereby the` stretchingof the leatheror material is automatically discontinued as well as the action of the means by which the/increase `in the throw of the rubbing-blades'is obtainedfand without stopping the rubbing movement of said blades.

The invention further relates to various details of construction and organization, all of which will hereinafter be fully described.

fofA our improved machine. linfront elevation thereof. in longitudinal vertical section upon the `dotted line 3 3 of Fig. l. frear elevation thereof.

rvertical cross-section upon the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, Figure l is a View in plan 5o Fig. 2 is a View Fig. 3 is a view Fig. 4 is a view in Figs. 6, 7, and S are detail views to which reference will hereinafter be made. The machine has mounted upon it means Before describing in detail the construction of the machine we will iirst describe the manner of mounting the leather or material in stretching-frame in the machine, and the verticaladjustment of the rubbing-blades, horizontal adjustment of the movable clamp member by' hand, and the subsequent automatic operation of the machine.

Ve will assume that the machine is to be operated in conjunction with removable holding and stretching frames. It will be understood that each movable holding and stretching frame also has its own rubbing-blades, which are removable with the stretched leather from the machine, the blades then being held between the leather and frame by the tautness of the leather, and subsequently the stretched leather is removedl from the detached or removed stretching-frame, the rubbin g-bladesthereby released, and the stretching frame and blades may then be replaced in the machine to be again used in holding and stretching another piece of leather. place the holding and stretching frame in the machine, its clamps are mounted upon the fixed and movable clamp-holders, the rubbing-blades placed over the plank or section of the frame upon which the clamps are mounted, with their ends located over-their reciprocating holders, which are then stationary and in their lowest position. 4The piece ot' leather to be rubbed and stretched 'is then clamped by its ends in the clamps of the stretching-frame, and thus arranged extends over the rubber-blades with the rubbing-surface of which it is in contact, the said rub- Fig. 5 is a view in 5,5

ior moving the rubbing-blades vertically in 6o their holders.

`the clamps, the mounting of the holding and bing-surface of the rubbing-blades being above the level of the clamps, and the movable clamp of the stretching-frame is moved away from the stationary clamp by a hand movement of the stretching devices, whereby the leather is drawn upon the rubbing-blades as taut as possible by such operation. The rubbing-blade holders are then lifted by a lifting mechanism to be described, when they engage the ends of the rubbing-blades and by their continued upward movement lift the rubbing-blades from the plank or clamp connection of thevstretching-frame, thus causing the blades to still further slightly strain the leather and at the same time locking them in a position to be moved from the plank and in the plane upon which they are l'eciprocated. The machine is then started and the rubbing-blades reciprocated between the two clamps against the leather, their stroke being automatically extended in the direction of the movable clamp, as the movable clamp is automatically caused by the action of the machine to take up the slack as itis made and hol'd the material stretched. The 'movement of the stretching-clamp may be stopped atany predetermined point and the stroke of the rubbing-blades then made constant or of the same length and continued, if desired, and the leather may be thus rubbed for any further period without subjecting it to further stretching action of the clamps, if so required. After the material has been sufficiently stretched and rubbed or rubbed alone the machine is stopped and the blade-holders lowered to their lowest position, thereby becoming disengaged from the ends of the blades and allowing the blades to move downward slightly upon the plank or other connections between the clamps of the stretchn ing-frame, and the stretching-frame, with Athe stretched leather holding the rubbing-blades to the plank, is then removed from the machin-e by simply lifting it from the clampengaging holders.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the machine-frame.

'B is the holding and stretching frame. It is represented as mounted in the machine. It carries at one end the fixed engaging clamp B and at a suitable distance from the other end the movable engaging clamp B2. The clamps are mounted upon a long wooden plank or support b, and they are similar in shape and clamping operation. The stationary clamp B' has a lower member b', which is considerably Wider than the plank and is provided with a reinforcing-rib@2 and a rectangular hole b3 for the receptionof the end b4 of thev plank, the memberof the clamp being fastened to the plank by a pin b5. There is arranged to screw into each end of the member a clampingscrew h6, which extends through holes in the upper member 297 and which member is closed toward the lower member byy turning the screws, the upper member being secured to the screws to be lowered and raised with them. The movable clamp B2 is similar in construction to the clamp B. The plank extends through a rectangular hole in the lower member bf thereof. The upper member b9 is moved toward and from the lower member in the same manner as the upper member of the stationary clamp B. The movable clamp has in addition a dog bw, which is pivoted to the lower member at b, (see Fig. 3,) andthe end Z212 of which is adapted to engage the teeth of the rack-bar Z313, fastened in a rectangular recess in the plank b. (See Fig. 3.) This dog, in connection with the rack, serves to lock the movable clamp after each of its progressive stretching movements and also serves to hold the movable clamp locked away from the stationary clamp and with the leather held by them in a state of tension.

The leather holding and stretching frame B is held in the machine by the holders C C', which form parts of the machine. The holders C are stationary wrought-iron angular pieces and are rigidly attached to the frame of the machine. They rest upon the cross-bar a of the machine and have down ward-extending ends through which fastening screws or bolts c, fastening them to the frame, ext-end, and upwardlyextending arms c', against which the inner side of the lower member b of the stationary clamp B bears near its outer ends. (See Figs. l and The holder C for engaging the movable clamp B2 of the stretching-frame is of similar construction; but instead of being attached to a fixed crossbar of the machine it is secured to the ends of a movable equalizing-bar c2, (see Fig. 1,) which is itself pivoted at c3, at the center ofits length,to a sliding carriage c4, mounted on the machine-frame. It enga-ges the lower member bs of the movable clamp by its upwardlyextending ends c5 at or near its outer ends. It is mounted upon an equalizer-bar in order that the draft of the clamp upon the leather may be made as uniform throughout the width of the leather as possible. The movable clamp is provided with itsV straining movement by means of the carriage c4, the large ratchetwheel D, the toggle-links d d', the chain d2, the shaft d3, upon which the ratchet-wheel is mounted, and the winding drum or spool d4 on said shaft d?. The toggle-links d are jointed at d5 near each right-hand upper corner of the machine-frame and at their lower ends at d6 to the links CZ', and the links d are pivoted at Z7 to lugs extending downward from the slide c4. The chains d2 connect with the links near the joint d6 and extend to the winding drums or spools d4. The drum or spool is turned by the ratchet-wheel D to wind up the chain, and the winding of the chain straightens the toggle and applies power to the slide c". This power may be applied by hand before the machine is set in operation to give the latter some degree of tautness, and for this purpose the wheel D is provided with handles d8, and it is locked after such movement by the lock- IOO IIO

ing-dog dg, pivoted at d10 to the machineframe, and the end of which is adapted to shut behind a ratchet-tooth on the Wheel, and thus lock it from turning back. This locking-dog also serves to hold the ratchet-Wheel, and consequently the slide c4 and clamp B2, when the ratchet-wheel is turned by power instead of by hand, as will be hereinafter eX- plained. E E are the rubbing-blades. They, preferably, are made of wood and are rectangular in section, with aworking surface formed by the inclined or beveled upper faces e e2.

Each rubbing-blade is carried by a bladeholder, with which it has a detachable relation. Each blade-holder has the end sections e3 e4, in which are the recesses or cavities e5 e6, open at their tops and of a size to receive and hold the ends of the rubbing-blades. These end sections are connected with each other by the integral depressed part e7. The outer ends of the blade-holders are mounted in the vertical slideways x in the guide-stands X, which are bolted tothe reciprocating carriage E2. Each blade-holder is vertically movable in its way by means of the cams E3, there being a cam beneath each end of each holder. These cams are also mounted upon the reciprocating carriage E2 and reciprocate therewith, and they are adapted to be simultaneously turned by their common operatingshaft Ef. This shaft is mounted upon the reciprocating carriage and has sprocket-Wheels e8 e9, which are turned by it. The sprocket- Wheel e8 is connected by the sprocket-chain el@ with the sprocket-wheel@1l on the cam-shaft el?, and the sprocket-wheel e is connected with a sprocket-Wheel @13 on the cam-shaft @14 by a sprocket-chain 615. These cams E3 are preferably shaped as represented in Fig. 2- that is, each is an edge cam having a liftingsurface. They impart vertical movement to the blade-holders by means of the studs or posts 61"', which are mounted in the ends of the blade-holders to extend downward, as represented in Fig. 7. The object of this construction of blade-holders and cams is to permit the blades to be readily engaged and disengaged by their holders and also to permit the stretching-clamp, with the blades thereon, to be readily placed in the machine and as readily removed from it. When the stretching-clamp and the blades are placed in the machine, the blade-holders are in their lowest posit-ion and out of contactwith the ends of the blades. The ends of the blades are located over their holding-recesses in the blade-holders, and the blade-holders are then lifted from the position represented in Fig. 8 to cause their ends to engage the ends of the blades and then slightly lift the blades above the plank or to the position represented in Fig. 5. The blade-holders are simultaneously lifted to engage the blades, and the blades then with the blade-holders are simultaneously slightly additionally lifted by the turning of the shaft E4, which is turned by hand by means of a wrench or in any other desired way before the machine is started. The adjusting-screws e regulate the height to which the holders may be lifted. These screws have threaded Shanks which screw in threaded holes in the blade-holder ends, and they bear upon the liftingstuds @16, and upon being turned they lift or lower the blade-holders with respect to the ends of the studs.

The carriage E2, the rubbing-blades, and their holders and lifting devices are reciprocated on the machine-frame by means of the racks fand the pinions f which engage them and Which are mounted upon a shaft F, which is caused to be rotated by the power-shaft first in one `direction and then in a reverse direction. Automatic shipping devices connect the main shaft with the shaft F, the time of operation being controlled by the movable clamp member B2. At the outer end of the shaft F there is a bevel gear-wheel f2, .with which the bevel-gears f3 f4 are in constant engagement. The gear f3 has a member f5 of a clutch and the gear f4 a member f6. Both the gears f3f4 and their members are free on the power-shaftf7. Between the clutch members f5f5 there is a clutch member f8, having a clutch-section]9 adapted to engage the clutch member f5, and a clutch memberflo, adapted to engage the clutch member f6. This clutch member f6 is made fast to the shattf7 by afast feather upon which it slides, and it is moved at each end of the movement of the carriage to engagefirst the bevel-gearf, by which the shaftF is turned in one direction, and then the bevel-gear f4, by which the shaft F is turned in a reverse direction and the carriage moved in a reverse direction. The shipping of the clutch-section f8 is produced by the lever fu, (see Fig. 4,) whose forked upper end engages the clutch-section f8 by pins enteringa groove therein, is pivoted at fm, and the lower end of which straddles the dog-rod f 13, and with which it has operative relation by means of the collars f 14. The dog-rod is moved bythe carriage near or at the end of each movement thereof and in one direction by the contact of the carriage-dog E14 (see Fig. l) with the dog fw, mounted on the dog-rodf13, and the dog-rod is moved in the reverse direction by the dog f1?, attached to the carriage, and the adjustable dogfls, adjustable on the dog-rod. The movement of the dog-rod by the carriage-dogs is sufficient to disengage the clutch-section f8 from the members ff6 of the clutch; but as the blade-carriage moves slowly and has practically no momentum it would be liable to stop as soon as this clutch-section f8 was disconnected from either of the members f5 or f6, and We have therefore provided an auxiliary force which will independently move the dog-rod f13 after the release of the clutch members, which occurs at the end of each stroke of the carriage. This supplemental moving of the dog-rod engages a clutch memloerf5 or f6 for the return or reverse moVe- 1 IOO IIO

IZO

ment of the carriage. Any desired means may be employed for this purpose, and We do not conne ourselves to the one which We are about to describe. This one consists of a spring-arm G, attached to the frame of the machine,extending horizontally and carrying at its free end a pusher g, the lower end ot' which has the inclined surfaces g g2 extending to a point g3. As the carriage E2 approaches the end of its movement in one direction or the other the pusher is caused to ride up the surface ot' a roll g4, which is mounted upon an arm g5, carried by the dog-rod fig. (See Figs. l and 4.) By contact of the moving dogs f17 and with the dog-rod dogs f18 and fl the point of the pusher g is carried just beyond the center of the'top of the roll, and the spring which has been compressed by the upward movement of the pusher then acts against the roll to push the dog-rod onward until the pusher has settled or moved downward` to its lowest position upon the opposite side of the roll, and this additional movement imparted to the dog-rod flB-at each end of the movement of the sliding carriage gives the dog-rod that slight additional movement necessary for positively engaging the clutch-secjtciojrcif8 alternately with the clutch members We have said that the clutch-dog f18 is adjustable, and we have also intimated that it is connected with the movable clamp B2 of the leather-holding frame. In Fig. 6 we have represented it as so connected by means' of the bent rod h, the lower end of which carries the dog-holder h', consisting of a rod h2, movable laterallyin a slotted hole h3 in the holder h', having at its .outer end a. grip h4, from which extends horizontally inward the dog fs. The rod h2 may also move longitudinally in the holder h', and a spring h5 surrounds it, bears against the holder, and also against the grip. The dog-rod f13 passes through a recess h6 in the grip. The rod h2, having a lateral movement in the holder h', permits the dog fls to act as a lever and to turn the grip suficiently to engage the dog-rod fis. As the position of the movable clamp B2 or clampholder is changed it likewise changes the posit-ion of the grip h4 upon the dog-rod, and consequently the travel of the rubbing-blades carriage must be increased or decreased to effect a contact of the shipping-dog f17 with the shipping-dog fs, according to the direction in which the clamp B2 is moved, and by this means the stroke of the rubbing-blades and their carriage is automatically varied and at one end only of their movement.

The slide c4 and the movable clamp B2 areautomatically moved by means of the dog I at the end of a bar t', attached to the sliding carriage E2. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) This dog as the carriage E2 approaches the end of its movement in one direction comes into contact with a tooth in the ratchet-wheel D and moves it slightly, thereby causing it to actuate the toggle and move the slide c4, and the stop-dog d2 automatically engages'y another tooth and holds the ratchet-Wheel, toggle, slide, and movable clamp stationary after the dog I is disengaged from the ratchet-wheel during the reverse movement of the carriage and its backward movement preparatory to a fresh engagement of the dog with the ratchet- Wheel, and this automatic movement of the carriage c4 and movable clamp B2 automatically varies step by step and in the same direction the position of the dog fls, as above specilied. The dog I, however, may be made inoperative by causing it to act against the cover J, which is attached to the rim of the ratchet-Wheel D by a thumb-screw and which is adapted to be moved into line with the line of movement of the dog I and upon which the dog then rides and is thus held disengaged from contact with the ratchet-teeth during the interval in which it would otherwise act to turn the ratchet-wheel. When the ratchetteeth coverM is so employed, the slide c4 and movable clamp B2 become stationary, as does also the dog f18, and the strokes of the rubbing-blades are then of the same length and do not automatically increase each stroke at one end. Power is communicated to the power-shaft through the beltwheel m to freely turn thereon and has a clutch meinber m and the clutch member m2, which is att-ached to the shaft by a fast feather and which is movable by the lever m3 into and out of engagement with the belt-Wheel clutch member. I

It will be observed that the rubbing-surfaces of the rubbing-blades reciprocate in a straight line and are above the points of engagement of the ends of the material with the clamps, and this provides a very desirable stretching and finishing action.

' The operation of the machine and its advantages have already been described and need not be further elaborated here. We would say that while we have described it as operating upon leather we would not be understood as limiting it to such use, but it may be employed upon any material of fabric requiring to be nished by a stretching and rubbing action.

It will be seen that the movable clamp acts to set the adjustable dog f18 in its initial position, and all subsequent movements of the clamp are also transferred to the dog, so that its position is automatically changed with that of the clamp in the subsequent step-bystep stretching of the material. This automatic preliminary setting of the dog establishes'the extent of the initial stroke of the rubbing-blades,and its subsequent automatic step-by-step setting also automatically fixes and determines the length of stroke of the rubbing-blades, and it will thus be seen that the length of the material placed in the clamps automatically determines the length of the stroke or travel of the rubbing-blades carriage and of the rubbing-blades and consequently that no adjustment of the said IOO IIO

' stroke to the length of material to be rubbed other than that obtained during the clamping of the material in the clamps is necessary. By making the clamping andstretching frame removable from the: machine the stretched leather or material may be held by it without losing any `of the stretch gained and until the same is dry, after which it is generally found to be loose in the stretchingframe, so that all the stretching which was gained in the machine is retained in the material.

Having thus fully described ou r invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States l. In a machine of thecharacter specified, holding and stretching clamps, hand means for separating them, reciprocating rubbingblades each independently adjustable and movable vertically, a-nd means for lifting each -rubbingblade to working position and for holding them lifted during their reciprocating movement, as set forth.

'2. In a machine of the character specified,

holding and stretching clamps, reciprocating y rubbing-blades and means applied to each blade whereby it is lifted to a working position and is held lifted during their reciploeating movements, as set forth.

3. In a machine of the character specified, holding and stretching clamps, hand means for separating the clamps, devices for holding them separated, rubbing-blades, means for reciprocating them between the Aclamps and hand means applied to each blade separately for lifting it to working position and for holding it lifted during its rubbing operation, as set forth.

4. In a machine of the character specified, holding and stretching clamps, reciprocating rubbing-blades, means applied to each blade to lift it and bring its working edge to a working position above the level of the ends of the material held by the clamps and for holding it in said position during its reciprocating movement, as set forth.

5. In a machine of the character specified, a removable holding and stretching frame lcomprising a clamp-support, two clamps mounted thereon, adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, and means for vlocking them in their separated position, frame-holders to engage the clamps of the frame also separable in relation to each other, means for moving one of the holders to separate the clamps, the rubbing-blades, devices for lifting them and for holding them lifted and means for reciprocating them in their lifted position.

6. In a stretching and rubbing machine a removable holding and stretching frame comprising a clam p-support, two clamps mounted thereon adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by themand means for locking them in their separated position, frameholders to engage the clamps ofthe frame, also separable in relation to each other, means for moving one of the holders to separate the clamps, the detachable rubbing-blades eX- tendin'g across the clamp-support between it and the said material held by the clamps,

holders upon each side of said support for holding the said bladesby their ends', devices for lifting said holders tosaid blades and for then slightly lifting thc blades and holding them lifted, and means for reciprocating the K blade-holders and said blade-lifting devices.

' 7 In a machine of the character specified, a

holding and stretching frame comprising a clamp-support, two clamps mounted thereon adapted to be separated step by step to stretch the material held by them, means for locking them apart as they are separated, frameholders to engage the clam ps of the frame also separable in relation to each other, means for moving one of the holders continuously by hand to separate the clamps and afterward by power witha step-by-step movement, the

one of said holders, the rubbing-blades, a reciprocating carriage upon which they are mounted and means connecting the carriage with the device for moving one of the frameholders, whereby the said device is caused to be operated by the carriage.

9. In a machine of the character specified, a reciprocating carriage, blade-holders mounted thereon, rubbing-blades having their ends in said holders, means upon said carriage in line with said blade-holders adapted to be simultaneously operated to lift the blade-holders simultaneously.

10. In a machine of the character specified the combination of the blade-holders, the rubbing-blades carried thereby, cams for lifting the bladeholders and means for adjusting the height of the blade-holders in relation to the cams.

Y 11. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a holding and stretching device having two clamps adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, means for locking them in their separated position, holders to engage the clamps also separable in relation to each other and reciprocating rubbing-blades and means for varying automatically the length of stroke of said rubbing-blades as said material is stretched at one end.

l2. In a machine of the character specified, holding and stretching clamps adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, means for locking them apart as they IIO are separated, holders to engage the clamps separable in relation to each other by a stepby-step movement, reciprocating rubbingtools and means whereby a change in position of the clamps with relation to each changes the length of the stroke of the rubbing-tools automatically. l l

13. In a machine of the character specified, a holding and stretching frame comprising a clamp-support, two clamps mounted thereon adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, means for locking them in their separated position, frame-holders to engage the clamps of the frame also separable in relation to each other, means for moving one of the holders to separate the clamps comprising the ratchet-wheel D, its shaft, a winding-drum mounted thereon, lthe toggle-links d, d' pivoted together, one of which is also pivoted' to the machine-frame and the other to the holder-slide, awinding-chain, connecting the toggles with the drum and a lockingdog to lock the ratchet-wheel.

14. In a machine of the character specilied a holding` and stretching frame comprising a clamp-support, two clamps mounted thereon,

adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them and adapted to be locked in their separated position, frame-holders also separable in relation to each other, means `for moving one of the holders to separate the clamps by a step-by-step movement, com prising a ratchet-wheel D, its shaft, a windingdrum thereon, the toggle members d, d connected with each other, the frame and the slide carrying the holder, a reciprocating dog I to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel near the end of a full reciprocation and a locking-dog to engage the teeth of the ratchet- Wheel to hold it stationary while the reciprocating dog is out of engagement with its teeth.

15. In a machine of the character specified, a holding and stretching frame comprising a clamp-support, two clam ps mounted thereon adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, means for locking them .in their separated position', frame-holders to t engage the clamps of the frame also separa- Vble in relation to each other, means for moving one of the holders to separate the clamps and devices for disconnecting said means from said holder in combination with reciprocating rubbing-blades.

16. In a machine of the character specilied, holding and stretching clamps adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, means for locking them in their separated positions, frame-holders to engage the `clamps also separable in relation to each other, a reciprocating carriage, rubbingblades carried by said carriage, mechanism for moving the carriage, and xed and variable reversing devices for reversing the movement of said mechanism, the variable reversing device being automatically controlled by the movable clamp.

17. In a machine of the character specified,

the combination of a movable clamp, a reciprocating carriage having a variable extent of movement, rubbing-tools mounted upon the carriage and means whereby the movement of the clampcontrols the extent of movement of the said carriage. v

18.4 In a machine of th'e character specified, a holding and stretching frame comprising a clamp-support, two clamps mounted thereon adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, and means for locking them in their separated position, frame-holders to engage the clamps ot' the frame also separable in relation to each other, and one of which is pivoted to move upon a horizontal arc.

19. In a machine ofthe character specified, holding and stretching clamps adapted to be separated to stretch the material held by them, means for locking them in their separated position, holders to engage the clamps also separable in relation to each other, a reciprocating carriage,rubbingblades mounted thereon to be reciprocated thereby, the carriage-rack j', the gears f' meshing therewith mounted on the shaft F, the bevel-gear]2 at the end of said shaft, the power-shaft f7, the bevel-gears f3, f4 and their respective clutch membersf, f6 mounted thereon to mesh with the teeth of the bevel-gearfz, the clutch member]08 movable on the power-shaft f7, having the clutch-sectionsf9,f10, the clutch-leverf, the dog-rod fis, connected 'with said clutchlever, the stationary dogfl, the automatically-movable dog fw on said dog-rod'an'd the reciprocating dogs mounted upon said carriage to engage respectively the stationary dog and the movable dog, and means for moving the movable dog adapted to be actuated by the movement of the clamp.

20. In a machine of the character specified, a carriage, rubbing-blades mounted thereon, means for reciprocating the carriage, the movement of which is adapted to be reversed, and reversing devices actuated by the carriage,in combination with independent means for also actuating said reversing devices, whereby the movement of said carriage in each direction is stopped and a reverse movement is given it, as set forth.

21. In a'machine of the character specified, clamps for holding the. material to be stretched, means for separating the clamps to stretch the material, devices for automatically governing the extent or duration of said stretching action, and reciprocating rubbingblades. l

22. In a machine of the character specified, clamps for holding the material, means for automatically separating the clamps, reciprocating rubbing-blades the length of the stroke of which is automatically increased, and automatic means for discontinuingduring the operation of the machine the 'separation ot' the clamps and the increase in the length of the stroke of the rubbing-tools.

23. In a machine of the character specified,

IOC-

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a detachable stretching-frame comprising a support, clamps mounted thereon adapted to be separated from each other and heldin their separatedpositions, and rubbing-blades held upon the support by the stretched material, the rubbing surfaces of said blades being upon a level above that of the ends of the stretched material held by the clamps.

24. In a machine of the character specified, a stretching-frame consisting of a support and stretching-clamps lmounted thereon, one of which is adapted to be moved with respect to the other and to be automatically locked to said support at the end of each movement, frame and clam p holders for holding the frame and engaging the clamps of said frame and for moving one of them, blades adapted to be mounted upon the support of the frame,blade holders vertically movable iirst to engage the ends of the blades and then to lift the blades slightly above said frame-support and means for reciprocating theblades While removed and for moving the clamp.

25. In a machine of the character specified, a removable stretching-frame comprising a support and clamps separable with respect to each other, means for separating'the clamps by hand and automatically and for locking the clamps apart, rubbing-blades above the support of said frame, blade-holders vertically movable before they are reciprocated to engage said blades and toslightly lift them above the frame-support, .means for recipro eating the blades and for lengthening automatically the stroke thereof, as and for the purposes described.

26. In a machine of the character specified, holders for a stretching frame which are adapted to be automatically separated, holders for the rubbingblades adapted to be moved vertically and to be horizontally reciprocated, said frame-holdersand said bladeholders being constructed and locatedwith respect to eachother, as described, whereby engagement will be permitted between the material held by said stretchingframe and the blades carried by said holders, as and for the purposes set forth. p

27. In a machine of the character specified, a blade-holder extending across the machine, having a depressed central section, also having recesses at or near each end open at their top for the recept-ion of the blade, and a removable blade the ends of which are held in said recesses and the central portion of which extends over the depressed section of the holder, whereby a space is provided between its lower edge and the depressed section of the holder, as and for the purposes set forth.

28. The combination in a machine of the vcharacter specified of a stretching-frame, supports for holding it by its ends in a stationary position, ablade-holder having blade-holding recesses on each side of said frame, and a depressed connecting-section beneath said frame, a rubbing-blade extending over said frame, the ends of which are engaged by the said holder and held in its end recesses and means for lifting said blade-holder and for reciprocating t-he same.

FRANK A. BRADFORD. MERTON A. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

FRANK I. BURGEss, GEORGE WILLIAM DELAMAINE. 

